Residents of East Torresdale spent more than two hours deliberating how to react to a local tavern owner’s proposal to expand his business. But by the end of an Aug. 11 meeting of the East Torresdale Civic Association, Kevin Goodchild got neighbors’ go-ahead to more than double the capacity of Maggie’s Waterfront Cafe.

After a long-delayed hearing on whether a Bustleton businessman may legally make dental retainers in a residentially zoned Haldeman Avenue property, members of the Zoning Board of Adjustment decided not to decide.

Volunteer community groups throughout the city each received the same alarming notice from the City Planning Commission last month. They were told that the city would no longer recognize them as of March 1.